TBR CH153

Chapter 153: Chasing the Scent of Dust 

Chu Huaicun, of course, was already well aware of everything Ji Ying reported to His Majesty in the palace.

To say that Prime Minister Chu had “interrogated” it out of Ji Ying was an exaggeration. Ji Ying was utterly forthcoming on such topics, even lacking any subconscious defense. Chu Huaicun would kiss him, and he would practically spill everything.

That’s what he had originally intended, but he hadn’t expected Chu Huaicun to start with, “When did you begin to like me?” which completely flustered him.

Ji Ying, blindfolded and with reddened ears from the embrace, was momentarily bewildered. He opened his mouth but said nothing. Clearly, for someone undergoing “interrogation,” this question was a bit out of scope. He had surely prepared many responses, but none were applicable. Due to the darkness, his silence deprived him of his sense of security, and with his hands and feet bound, he was unable to move.

Chu Huaicun chuckled softly, his voice imbued with a subtle pressure.

“Why doesn’t Lord Ji answer?” he asked. “This is an interrogation, after all.”

Almost in the next second, Ji Ying realized what that dreadful word now implied. He wanted to arch his back and avoid the sudden surge of stimulation, but he was firmly pinned to the chair, able to be examined from head to toe like a trapped butterfly, nearly screaming.

The disadvantage of being blindfolded now became apparent.

Because of the unknown, his entire skin was taut, causing even the most ordinary touch to send shivers through him. He wanted to say something, but all that came out were the other’s names, and utterly useless pleas.

Therefore, during a gasp for breath, he regained some clarity and began to race against time to formulate his words.

“When I fell for you,” Ji Ying rummaged through his memories, “it was a very long time ago.”

“Hmm?”

When the interrogator merely responded with this low utterance, it indicated that the answer was not yet satisfactory. Ji Ying suddenly curved his lips as images flickered through his mind like passing shadows. He said softly:

“Trapped within the city walls due to the plague, do you remember the first time I saw you? I always felt that I must have made a bad impression on you. Because of the food distribution, my sedan chair was almost overturned by the surging commoners, and there were no means to support myself. I was completely a fallen young master, and what’s more, I wasn’t even worthy of sympathy, because in such times, no one’s life was worth more than anyone else’s.”

Chu Huaicun let him speak and didn’t provoke him, merely reaching out to smooth his hair.

“Not at all,” he thought carefully and said. “I only found you very special at the time. You were in the crowd like a moon fallen from the sky, pure and noble, gentle to others, impeccably dressed. I had never seen anyone like you, nor did I ever imagine that I would become involved with you later. You hadn’t started liking me then, had you?”

Ji Ying’s voice unnaturally paused: “Who knows?”

Who could tell when the heart began to stir? He only remembered the young sword-wielder, holding his sword, descending as if from heaven, repelling the surging commoners with his sword hilt. He was free and bright, full of sharpness.

The gleam of the sword was reflected in his eyes, as if a heavy snow had suddenly fallen before him.

Before this, Ji Ying had never strayed from the path, yet he meticulously and carefully tried, finally asking his master about going into seclusion in the mountains, leaving him alone to wander outside; then he painstakingly and subtly probed, finally succeeding in arousing Chu Huaicun’s suspicion.

“Are you inviting me to your home?”

He said, “That’s no problem, I have nowhere else to go anyway. But why do you seem a little nervous?”

The Lin Young Master at that time also wanted to know the answer to this question. He wasn’t sure why his limbs felt stiff, yet his heart pounded faster in his chest after hearing Chu Huaicun’s reply. He simply smiled, seemingly openly and honestly, giving a grand and lofty explanation under the guise of being a lifesaver.

When Chu Huaicun truly arrived at the residence of the aristocratic family, he quickly realized something. Not everyone was qualified to be compared to the moon. Literary talent, integrity, gentle and refined. These were all descriptions belonging to the same person.

There was only one Eldest Young Master Lin in the world.

“I liked you a long time ago,” Ji Ying said, “so long ago that I can’t remember when. Sometimes I wonder if my disguise was truly so flawless that you never noticed, and that in your heart, I was perfect without any flaws. Actually, I’m not as good as you imagine…”

“Nonsense.” Chu Huaicun suddenly kissed him.

The kiss landed on his neck, and his pale skin flushed slightly. Ji Ying struggled fruitlessly again. When he realized it was useless, he rubbed his hand conspicuously against Chu Huaicun’s palm, trying to gain some leniency.

“Really,” but he still hadn’t given up on the topic.

His voice grew softer and softer, finally becoming a murmur. “Huaicun, people don’t turn bad without warning. Look at me now, saying how upright and honorable I was before, isn’t that a little ridiculous? If that were truly the case, I should have immediately slammed my head against the wall and died, rather than walking around like a zombie doing those dirty deeds.”

Chu Huaicun, through the blindfold, touched Ji Ying’s trembling eyelashes, feeling his fingertips dampen, unsure if it was from earlier or current tears: “That’s not your fault.”

Ji Ying seemed to want to pull his hand out to wipe the mist from his eyes, but he realized again that he was tightly bound, all his senses at Chu Huaicun’s command. Chu Huaicun softly comforted him, but did not remove the blindfold, only gently and densely kissing his eyes through the damp cloth.

His voice was a little muffled: “I’m not as untainted as you imagine.”

“Do you remember back then, my second brother wanted you to be his companion reader in the palace? When I heard that news, I almost went mad. That was the first time I overstepped the rules and went directly to the family head, but father questioned why I wouldn’t let you go. Being a companion reader was a great opportunity for advancement; he thought it was the best arrangement for you. I wanted to order my second brother to cross out your name, but it was out of jealousy.”

“I didn’t want to go either,” Chu Huaicun said. “Besides, you already asked me.”

“But I’m still selfish.” Ji Ying closed his eyes for a moment. “I wanted to keep it from you, to make the decision quietly. But when I saw you, I suddenly realized I couldn’t hide anything. Also, Huaicun, do you still remember, there was a time when you always wanted to go to the military camp?”

At that time, the borders were unstable. General Dingguo returned to the capital after fighting several victorious battles, and incidentally, recruited soldiers. This was indeed very appealing to Chu Huaicun; he was, after all, half a swordsman, and even when placed in the backyard of a prominent family in the capital, he would still train his swordsmanship every day, and his strength was indeed exceptional.

As for Young Master Lin at that time, he seemed to have no objection to this.

No—Chu Huaicun looked at the person before him and thought carefully. The other party had already said so much. If he were to join the army, he would have to leave the capital, traveling thousands of miles away. At the same time, he would also have to face the objective reality of battlefields having no eyes; no matter how skilled he was, cold blades and spears could still split him in half.

“I knew you wanted to go then,”

Ji Ying said softly. “General Dingguo once visited the Ji residence. He glimpsed you practicing your sword and had your name added to the expedition list. The first time in my life I tried to use those methods was then. I started learning to dip my hands into those murky places; my identity as the eldest son of the Lin family was my pass. I finally obtained that list.”

He paused: “I went through immense hardship to get the roster, almost losing my mind, simply because I wanted to cross your name off it.”

His body stiffened, as if ready to be sacrificed, his eyes tightly shut. Chu Huaicun was a little helpless. He hadn’t expected this “interrogation” to ultimately turn into something resembling a true interrogation. And the other party, having resolved to be a sacrifice, laid bare everything he had done before the gods, without begging for any reprieve.

“And then?”

Chu Huaicun said calmly, his hand resting on Ji Ying’s shoulder. “Yuan Ya, do you want to stop here and tell me you’re a bad person? That might be a bit late, because I never intended to leave you from beginning to end, and I know what kind of person you are.”

“…What?”

“Did you do it?”

Chu Huaicun asked, but it was as if he already knew the answer. “Something like crossing my name off to protect me.”

Ji Ying took a long moment to reply: “I… didn’t.”

After he got the list he had longed for, he realized he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could only hide the roster in his study, delaying for a few days. The thought of Chu Huaicun possibly leaving, possibly bleeding and dying on the battlefield, filled him with dread, but when he actually picked up the brush, he thought of the young man’s sharp, bright gaze, as if it could cut through anything.

He couldn’t go against the other’s wishes.

Even if things went against his own desires, it wasn’t his own will.

That day by Qingyu Lake, Young Master Lin finally spoke to Chu Huaicun about it. He spoke calmly, pretending he had not secretly done anything that went against his identity. And Chu Huaicun was exactly as he had predicted.

The young man wanted to join the army, wanted to fight on the battlefield, wanted to become a future general, facing the glinting sword tips.

At that moment, Ji Ying suddenly understood something, even though he felt a part of his heart empty.

He decided to return the roster after going back, and decided never to interfere with the young man’s wishes. He wanted the other to be free, while he had almost become a束縛 (fetter/constraint). He wanted the other to get what he desired, even if it meant his own pain. He felt ashamed of his past thoughts, but at that moment, he felt he had also slightly touched freedom, touched the young man’s sharp yet somewhat gentle soul towards him.

He clapped his hands in rhythm for the other by the banks of Qingyu Lake. Prime Minister Chu remembered that scene of the elegant gentleman for a very long time, and this was another version of the story.

At that time, one wanted to be a loyal minister, the other a good general. Unfortunately, the ensuing fire burned everything down, from the sky into their eyes. He had prepared for separation, but everything came so suddenly, without even a proper farewell.

“You don’t need to blame yourself for things you didn’t do,”

Chu Huaicun carefully avoided his hair, still holding his shoulders. Their eyes were so close, but unfortunately, Ji Ying only saw darkness, able to vaguely trace Chu Huaicun’s outline by his breath.

Ji Ying smiled: “I know.”

Chu Huaicun then said: “Yuan Ya, I want you to walk with me always.”

This time, the pause was a little longer. Ji Ying finally solemnly agreed: “Alright.”

He then felt a bit regretful, wanting to break the slightly serious atmosphere and not waste this excellent opportunity:

“This is off-topic. Prime Minister Chu clearly said he wanted to interrogate me. I should have drawn out the answer longer. The rope on my wrists is loose; Huaicun, can you tie it again for me?”

Mr. Fang returned from prison and was thankfully welcomed.

The Prime Minister’s manor steward greeted him, and Chu Huaicun’s other advisors, who trusted him, also came to congratulate him. Having finally escaped, he saw young Liang Tanhua looking at him with red eyes, carrying dried meat and tonics, insisting on stuffing them into his arms.

“That was the imperial prison,” Liang Kechun said. “A place of near-certain death. How can you not take good care of yourself after returning safely, sir? Although most of these things were prepared by me, even Prime Minister Chu helped.”

Mr. Fang, who had always worked alone, hadn’t felt such warmth in a long time. It happened that Prime Minister Chu was not convenient to come out and receive guests at this moment, so he delayed outside for some time until the palace sedan chair familiar with the route picked up the person and left. Only then did he walk into Chu Huaicun’s study.

He briefly explained the situation.

Several candles were lit in the room, their warm glow melting into the eyes of the snow-clad figure seated, effectively diminishing his cold aura somewhat. Mr. Fang watched, then suddenly felt a chill of trepidation.

He hesitated for a moment, then boldly spoke, asking a question he had asked before.

Last time, Chu Huaicun’s answer came quickly.

But this time, Prime Minister Chu’s voice did not ring out as before. In the instant that silence spread like a tangible presence in the room, the conclusion was already self-evident. There was no one else in the room, only Chu Huaicun and Mr. Fang. Chu Huaicun paused, then quietly sighed, rose from his seat, and his footsteps stopped beside Mr. Fang.

Mr. Fang was not merely an advisor but also a mentor and a friend.

Therefore, at this moment, he had no need to assert his status nor to conceal anything.

Mr. Fang subconsciously twirled his beard, looking at the young man before him, who was also the most influential and decisive official in the court and wilderness. He rarely felt the situation was a bit tricky. He regretted for a moment, thinking he really shouldn’t have drunk so much at Chu Huaicun’s master’s place, owing too many favors. Master and disciple truly were a troublesome pair.

The candlelight flickered suddenly, and the shadows on the ground lengthened a few more inches.

“Never mind,”

Mr. Fang waved his hand, feigning an awkward smile. “Prime Minister Chu has his own decisions, I was just asking.”

These words were so weak that even he didn’t believe them. Mr. Fang’s heart also began to struggle. After spending this much time together, and the other being the foster son of an old friend, although it sounded a bit boastful, he had long regarded Chu Huaicun as half his apprentice. He had understood this principle from the very beginning, so how could he watch someone jump into a pit of fire?

He hesitated, the smile on his face slowly fading.

Mr. Fang opened his mouth, about to advise. But Chu Huaicun spoke before him. Prime Minister Chu’s voice was very calm, as if he had thought about this question countless times in his heart, not a spontaneous idea:

“Sir, if I have now changed my mind, will you and Master be disappointed?”

“How could we?” Mr. Fang was countered, subconsciously shaking his head. “Your master is an idle man who doesn’t care about anything. As for me, this old man, I am very good at preserving my life, so the younger generation doesn’t need to worry. But you must understand, this path is not so easy to walk. I thought Prime Minister Chu had already thought it through.”

The darkness outside the house was still thick. Looking out from the room, there wasn’t even a single star.

Chu Huaicun’s fingers lightly curled, as if still retaining the feel of his intertwined fingers with that person, whose eyelashes were heavy with tears, hair scattered on his skin, the contrast of black and pale possessing a unique beauty. He should have rested longer, but at this moment, he had already donned his deep purple official robes and stepped into this thick, undiluted night.

He briefly closed his eyes, then opened them. Like a drawn sword, his gaze was like the cold sharpness of a blade, bright and piercing, making it impossible to look away:

“If I don’t make such plans, I fear I won’t be able to protect him.”

The young man of over a decade ago couldn’t grasp the moonlight in his hands; the current Chu Huaicun would never allow what happened then to repeat. Ji Ying’s identity, along with his years of tribulation and forbearance, were deeply intertwined with the current court. A slight disturbance would result in a bloody mess. If it were only Chu Huaicun himself, he wouldn’t care if he had a good ending, as long as he protected the person beside him.

But with Ji Ying standing before him, everything seemed far from enough.

He wanted to clear the stain from the other’s reputation, to restore his former status; he wanted this moonlight to forever reside in the bright hall, untainted by dust. He wanted a position that could forever protect the other, one that had to be unreachably high, unspeakably noble.

Was the ambitious Prime Minister Chu enough?

Was the Regent King, who commanded the emperor, enough?

The atmosphere gradually grew tense, and even the candlelight seemed to solidify, no longer moving. Chu Huaicun, however, rarely smiled. He sat in the position before Mr. Fang and slowly comforted him:

“It’s not necessarily about sitting in that position. If there’s a better way, then there’s naturally no need to take risks. Sir, I would like to ask, if His Majesty were to suddenly pass away tomorrow, which Prince would succeed to the throne?”

This question was blunt, indescribable even as rebellious.

Mr. Fang, however, felt nothing amiss. He thought for a moment: “If His Majesty hasn’t changed the imperial edict, it would still be the Crown Prince as per custom, but His Highness Prince Duan would likely contend for it. After all, the current Crown Prince and Prince Duan seem somewhat equally matched.”

“What about after a while longer?”

“I fear neither of these Highnesses would fare well,” Mr. Fang mused. “Prime Minister Chu would have thoroughly investigated Prince Duan’s background by then, and the Crown Prince would have lost power. If the Seventh Prince were to show some promise then, he would have a good chance of winning.”

Chu Huaicun bent a knuckle and tapped lightly on the table, speaking words that were like a clap of thunder:

“What if the current Emperor’s claim to the throne were proven illegitimate, and it became known throughout the world?”

Regarding the imperial throne, the biggest concern was public opinion. An illegitimate claim, impure bloodline – all of these would lead to widespread rumors and discussions among the common people.

Even millions of well-trained soldiers, or strategists capable of taking the enemy’s head, could not change the questioning of the emperor’s legitimacy. On the contrary, it would invite more slander. To defy the world’s condemnation, one must be prepared to pay the price.

Mr. Fang’s voice also lowered: “Then these few Highnesses… would have no chance. One would have to find the remaining bloodline from the previous emperor. Among those who can still be mentioned in the capital today, there is only Prince Ping from back then. However, he lost the struggle for succession back then, and his entire family is now exiled to Lingnan. Only when lychees ripen does he send a few baskets to the capital in his own name.”

Chu Huaicun said, “It is said that Prince Ping has two sons?”

Mr. Fang shook his head: “I’ve been to Lingnan. To be honest, I can still pull out a few personal tokens from these two young masters, each worth a fortune—unfortunately, they lost them to me playing cards. Prime Minister Chu, you can see, these two are truly not very intelligent. Even if they were just to be puppets, they’re too ostentatious and reckless, not even as good as the current Crown Prince.”

…This was an unexpected pleasant surprise.

There had never been any news of Prince Ping in the capital. Now to know that he had raised two good-for-nothing sons was the latest intelligence.

Mr. Fang spoke on and on, then stopped, staring at Chu Huaicun. After a long moment, he finally sighed leisurely:

“I originally intended to advise Prime Minister Chu, but I ended up getting myself tangled. Indeed, if everything goes smoothly, the current powers will undergo a major reshuffle, and Prime Minister Chu’s chances of victory will undoubtedly increase. However, it will ultimately be without a proper justification, and your current reputation, apart from Young Master Ji… is probably as bad as it gets. I still advise you to be cautious on this path.”

“I understand,” Chu Huaicun lowered his gaze slightly, his expression very serious. “Thank you, sir. You have taught me much and helped Ji Ying with the ‘Half-Face Makeover’ poison. At this point, whether you wish to stay or leave, I will respect your wishes, and I am immensely grateful.”

When he spoke like this, he was truly sincere. Mr. Fang, for a moment, felt his feet had grown roots. Ever since that incident where his boat capsized, he had always wanted to stay out of the political turmoil of the court, at most earning a little ill-gotten money. It was only because Chu Huaicun had, after all, been involved with him and had been entrusted to him that he had stayed.

Now, according to his nature of self-preservation, he should withdraw.

No one would blame him.

Chu Huaicun had already prepared for Mr. Fang to leave. He was an irreplaceable asset, but Prime Minister Chu never wanted to force anyone, especially those he categorized as important people around him. He planned to prepare a substantial sum of money for Mr. Fang and help him disappear again. But the old man with greying beard before him sighed again after a long moment.

“If this succeeds,” he said, “will Prime Minister Chu give me an official position?”

“Sir, if you are willing to return, I naturally…”

“Never mind,” Mr. Fang himself waved his hand, stroking his sparse hair. “At that age, I don’t want to be involved with the court. But now I still have some strength—who told Prime Minister Chu that I’m leaving now? Prime Minister Chu and Lord Ji still have lingering poisons, and there’s also young Liang, that poor child. I can’t leave like this; I’m still worried.”

He and Liang Kechun indeed got along very well.

Liang Kechun, originally a pure and upright new Tanhua (third-place graduate), also gradually started dabbling in new things with him, transforming from a gentle scholar into an all-around strategist, and occasionally being taught tricks of theft and deception. Although this was a bit beyond him, Liang Kechun still diligently studied the theories.

Aside from composing poetry, Mr. Fang had almost become his teacher in various fields.

But he didn’t let Liang Kechun call him that, considering that Liang Kechun had Wei Gong as a teacher back then, and he himself was more casual, so he didn’t care about the title. If he left, Liang Kechun would definitely be sad for a long time.

“Sir, you’re not leaving?”

Chu Huaicun was somewhat surprised instead.

Mr. Fang shook his head. He looked at Chu Huaicun. The other was clad in white, yet he didn’t appear gentle and refined, but rather exuded a cold, untainted, and lofty aura.

On one side of his robe hung a gentleman’s pendant of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, and on the other, a three-foot sword glinted with cold light. When he looked at people, his eyes were like a mirror made of snow, able to see directly into the depths of one’s heart, inspiring involuntary awe.

Such a temperament, compared to those like Prince Duan and the Crown Prince, indeed resembled more an effortless superior.

“Of course not leaving,”

He then said, stroking his beard again, “Not to boast, but with me, Prime Minister Chu, this path has a much greater chance of success. Oh, by the way, calculating the time, Lord Ji should be out of the palace by now, shouldn’t he?”